Apparatus for advancing and rotating work pieces



NOV. 18, 1958 c, sp ou 2,860,355

APPARATUS FOR ADVANCING AND ROTATING WORK PIECES Filed Nov. 23, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

. D. SPA/NHOUR Y m ATTORNEY Nov. 18, 1958 c. D. SPAINHOUR 2,860,355

APPARATUS FOR ADVANCING AND ROTATING WORK PIECES Filed Nov. 23, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 C. D. SPA/NHOUR A r TORNEY Nov. 18, 1958 c. D. SPAINHQUR 2,850,355

APPARATUS FOR ADVANCING AND ROTATING WORK PIECES Filed Nov. 25, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 3

INVENTOR.

C. D. SPA/NHOUR av. I

ATTORNEY Nov. 18, 1958 c. D. SPAINHOUR 2,350,355

APPARATUS FOR ADVANCING AND ROTATING WORK PIECES Filed Nov. 23, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIGS FIG. 4

INVENTOR.

C. D. SPA/NHOUR A 7" TORNE Y United States Patent APPARATUS FOR ADVANCING AND ROTATING WORK PIECES Carroll 1). Spainhour, Greensboro, N. C., assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N Y., a corporation of New York Application November 23, 1955, Serial No. 548,579

Claims. (Cl. -21) This invention relates to work-holding apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus for presenting a workpiece to rotary brushes and for rotating the work piece.

Finishing operations on metal workpieces are often performed by using rotary brushes having steel bristles or the like. Usually the workpiece is presented to the brushes manually or with some workpiece-holding device for a length of time determined by an operator. Manifestly, such a procedure is not well suited to large scale manufacturing operations in which a large number of identical workpieces are to be finished. Since the time expended for each finishing operation is determined by the operator, it is inevitable that a certain degree of wasted time and non-uniformity in the finished products will result, no matter how skilled the operator may be.

Apparatus for performing finishing operations on workpieces often include means for rotating, not only rotary brushes that perform the finishing, but also the workpiece itself. Heretofore, such conventional apparatus were generally not provided with means for stopping the rotation of the workpiece automatically after each finishing operation so that the finished workpiece could be removed quickly and a succeeding workpiece secured into place.

It is an object of this invention to provide new and improved work-holding apparatus.

It is a further object of'this invention to provide new and improved apparatus for presenting workpieces to rotary brushes.

Apparatus embodying certain features of this invention may include a movable workpiece support, means for reciprocating the support, means operable for driving the support rotatably and cam means designed to render the driving means operative to rotate the support when the support is moved in one direction and to render the drive means inoperative when the support is moved in the opposite direction.

More specifically, apparatus for presenting a workpiece to rotary brushes, embodying certain features of this invention, may include a lathe spindle mounted on a carriage for reciprocable and rotatable movement. The spindle has a chuck secured to one end thereof, designed to hold rotatably a workpiece to be presented to the brushes. A mounting plate for a motor is secured pivotally along one side thereof to the carriage for movement therewith, and an opposite side of the mounting plate is supported on a cam plate secured fixedly adjacent to the carriage. The cam plate has a camming surface formed thereon that is inclined in a direction toward the brushes. When the workpiece is in a retracted position remote from the brushes, a belt connecting the driving shaft of the motor and the spindle is loose so that the workpiece is not rotated.

When the workpiece is to be presented to the brushes, a fluid-operated cylinder is actuated to move the carriage toward the brushes. As the workpiece moves toward the brushes, the side of the motor mounting plate contacting the cam plate rides down the inclined surface Patented Nov. 18, 19585 thereof, and the mounting plate pivots about the opposite pivctally-mounted side. As a result, the distance between the drive shaft of the motor and the spindle is increased. When the workpiece is immediately adjacent to the brushes, this distance is great enough to make the belt therebetween taut, whereby the workpiece is driven rotatably. After the workpiece has been in contact with the rotary brushes for a predetermined length of time, the cylinder is energized to return the carriage to its retracted position wherein the driving belt is loose so that the work is no longer rotated. A hand brake is provided to stop the rotation of the workpiece quickly, if necessary.

A clear understanding of the invention will be had from the following detailed description of a specific embodiment thereof, when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a work-holding apparatus embodying the invention, showing the apparatus in its inoperative position;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the work-holding apparatus shown in Fig. 1, showing the apparatus in its operative position;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, vertical section taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a reduced, vertical section taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, vertical section taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of a control circuit used in conjunction with the invention.

Referring to the drawings, and more specifically to Figs. -1 and 2, apparatus is shown for performing finishing operations on metal workpieces, such as deburring a newly-made gear 141. The gear 10 is secured to a chuck 11, which may be of standard, lathe-type construction. The chuck 11 is secured to the forward end of a lathe spindle 12, mounted rotatably to a carriage 15, which is slidable along guide rods 16-16. The guide rods 16-16 are mounted fixedly to a base 17 by bracket plates 29-20. The carriage 15 is reciprocatedalong the guide rods 16-16 by a fluid-operated cylinder 21, which has a piston rod 22 that is secured to the carriage 15 by a threaded fastener 25. The carriage 15 is reciprocable from a retracted or inoperative position, shown in Fig. 1, to a forward or operative position, shown in Fig. 2. Such reciprocation is controlled by a valve 26 having conduits 28 and 30 connected to opposite ends of the cylinder 21.

A pair of rotary brushes 31-31 are provided for deburring the gear 10 when the carriage 15 is moved into the operative position shown in Fig. 2. The brushes 35-35 may be made of steel bristles, Tampico fiber bristles, or some other suitable material. The brushes 31-31 are secured to a horizontal, threaded shaft 32, journaled rotatably within bearings 35-35. The spacing between the brushes 31-31 is adjustable by loosening adjusting nuts 36-36. When the adjusting nuts 36-36 are loosened, the brushes 31-31 can be placed at and secured in any predetermined position along the shaft 32. It is preferred that the brushes be so positioned along the axis of the shaft 32 that they contact diametrically opposite sides of the gear 10. By, so doing, the burs on the gear 10 are brushed in opposite directions to assure their removal.

Referring to Fig. 2, the vertical level of the brushes 31-31 is adjustable by loosening screws 37-37, threaded into each of the bearings 35-35, and sliding the bearings 35-35 along vertical rods 46-40. Such vertical adjustment of the shaft 32 may be necessary when a very small gear 10 is to be deburred and only one brush 31 is to be used. With the adjusting features hereinbefore described, the brushes 31-31 can be placed in virtually any position within predetermined vertical and horizontal limits.

The brushes 3131 are rotated by a motor 41 through a driving belt 42. The driving belt extends between a plurality of sheaves 4545 and 4646, secured to the output shaft of the motor 41 and the horizontal shaft 32, respectively, so that the shaft 32 may be driven when positoned on any one of a plurality of vertical levels within limits. It is preferred that the motor 41 be of the reversible type so that the brushes 31-31 can be rotated in either direction to debur the gear 18. By reversing the direction of the brushes 3131 at predetermined intervals, the brushes will be worn evenly and not in only one direction. Since the brushes 31-31, shown in Fig. 1, contact diametrically opposite sides of the gear 10, the brushes will rotate in opposite directions with respect to the edge of the gear being deburred. Therefore, the gear will be effectively deburred regardless of the direction of rotation of the brushes 3131.

Figs. 3 and 4 show, in greater detail, the mounting of the gear 10 for reciprocable and rotatable movement, and the means for reciprocating and rotating the gear. As shown in Fig. 3, a pair of sleeve-type bearings 47 and 50 are secured fixedly to the spindle 12 by set screws 51 and 52, respectively, which prevent any longitudinal movement of the bearings with respect to the spindle 12. The bearings 47 and 50 are mounted for rotatable movement within hubs 55 and 56, secured fixedly to the carriage by vertical standards 57 and 68, respectively. The chuck 11 is secured to the forward end of the spindle 12, and a sheave 61 is mounted fixedly to the rearward end of the spindle by a set screw 62, which passes through a hub 65 of the sheave 61.

A rod 66 is mounted for longitudinally slidable movement Within the hollow spindle 12 between an internally threaded sleeve 67 and an unthreaded sleeve 70. The internally threaded sleeve 67 is secured within the rearward end of the spindle 12 by a set screw '71. The rearward end of the rod 66 has a thread formed thereon which cooperates with the internal thread within the sleeve 67 and with an internal thread formed within a hand knob 72, which is shown in Fig. 3 abutting the end of the sleeve 67. The lower end of the set screw 71 also cooperates with a groove 75 formed longitudinally within the rearward end of the rod 66.

As hereinabove described, the forward end of the rod 66 is mounted slidably within the forward end of the spindle 12 for longitudinal movement with respect to the spindle by the sleeve 70. The sleeve 76 is secured fixedly to the forward end of the rod 66 by a pin 76, and is bored longitudinally therethrough with a portion of the bore being threaded. The threaded portion of the bore within the sleeve 70 cooperates with a threaded portion of a spring collet 77. A forward end 78 of the collet 77, which end is slotted longitudinally thereof and tapered, is mounted slidably within a sleeve 80.

The sleeve 80 has a tapered bore 81 therethrough, the wall of which cooperates with the tapered end 78 of the collet 77. The sleeve 80 is secured fixedly within the forward end of the spindle 12 by welding, for example. Consequently, as the collet 77 is moved to the left, as viewed in Fig. 3, the slotted, tapered end 78 thereof clamps down on a draw bar 82 which is inserted longitudinally of the collet 77. The draw bar 82 has a head 85 on the forward end thereof securing the gear 10 during the deburring of the gear.

To secure a gear 18 within the chuck 11, the drawbar 82 is used, if the gear 10 has no hub formed thereon. The hand knob 72 is turned in a suitable direction to loosen the hand knob on the threaded portion of the rod 66. Such loosening moves the hand knob to the left, away from its position abutting the end of the sleeve 67. When the hand knob is rotated and the spindle 12 held against rotation, rotation of the rod 66 is also prevented due to the positioning of the end of the Set s rew 7 within the groove 75. The rod 66 is then pushed longitudinally in a forward direction by pushing the hand knob 72 to the right and again abutting the hand knob against the end of the sleeve 67. Such movement of the rod 66 forces the collet 77 to the right so that the tapered end 78 thereof is moved without the tapered bore 81 of the sleeve 80. The tapered and slotted end 78 of the collet is then large enough to receive the left end of the drawbar 82.

The drawbar 82 is then inserted through the center of the gear 10 and the center of the chuck 11, and into the slotted and tapered end 78 of the collet 77. The hand knob 72 is turned in a direction opposite to that described above so that the rod 66 moves to the left, as viewed in Fig. 3. Such movement of the rod 66 moves the collet 77 to the left, and the tapered and slotted end 78 thereof is moved into the tapered bore 81 of the sleeve whereby the slotted end 78 of the collet grips the drawbar 82 tightly to secure the gear 10 fixedly between the head of the drawbar and the chuck 11.

The chuck 11 is also provided with standard chuck jaws 8686 to secure a gear having a hub. Since the construction of such a chuck is well-known, a more detailed description thereof should be unnecessary.

As described hereinabove, the gear 10 is mounted rotatably to the carriage 15 by virtue of the rotatable mounting of the spindle 12 within bearings 47 and 50 of the hubs 55 and 56, respectively. Rotation of the gear 10 is effected by rotating the spindle 12 through the sheave 61 secured thereto. The sheave 61 may be driven rotatably from a motor 87, which has a sheave 90 secured to the output shaft thereof, through a belt 91. The motor 87 may be a gear head motor, as shown in the drawings, or any other suitable type.

The motor 87 is secured fixedly to a motor mounting plate 92. The mounting plate 92 has a rod 95 attached fixedly thereto near one end thereof by welding, for example. The ends of the rod 95 are located within U- shaped slots formed Within brackets 96-96 and are secured loosely within such slots by stops 97-97. Therefore, the end of the plate 92, to which the rod 95 is attached, is pivotally mounted to the carriage 15, and longitudinal movement of the rod 95 and plate 92 is prevented by the stops 97-97.

The end of the motor mounting plate 92, Which is opposite to that to which the rod 95 is attached, rests directly on the upper edge of an adjustable came plate 108. The upper edge of the cam plate forms an inclined surface which diminishes in height in a direction toward the rotary brushes 31-31. Consequently, referring to Fig. 5, as the carriage 15 moves the gear 10 toward the rotary brushes 31-31, the motor mounting plate 92 pivots about the rod 95 as the free end thereof travels along the inclined surface of the cam plate 100.

When the carriage 15 is in its retracted position (as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4), the mounting plate 92 is held horizontally, since the higher level of the cam plate 100 is at the same height as the rod 95. The belt 91 is so constructed and the distance between the axes of the sheaves 61 and 90 is such when the mounting plate 92 is horizontal, that the belt 91 is loose between the sheaves 61 and 90. Accordingly, the spindle 12 and gear 10 are not driven by the motor 87 when the carriage is in its retracted position. However, when the carriage 15 is in its forward position (as shown in Figs. 2 and 5), the mounting plate 92 is pivoted about the rod 95, and the distance between the axes of the sheaves 61 and 98 is increased. When the carriage 15 approaches its forward position and the gear 10 contacts the brushes 31-31, the distance between the axes of the sheaves 61 and 90 becomes such that the belt 91 is tightened so that the motor drives the spindle 12 and the gear 10.

To reciprocate the carriage 15 between its forward and retracted positions, the cylinder 21 and the valve 26 are provided. Referring to Fig. 6, the valve 26 is a four-way, solenoid-operated valve IQWhiCh air under pressure is supplied through a conduit 101 and from which air is exhausted through a conduit 102. As hereinbefore described, the conduits 28 and 30 are connected to opposite sides of the cylinder 21 to supply air alternately to opposite sides of a piston 105, to which the piston rod 22 is secured. The side of the piston 105 to which air is supplieddepends upon theposition of a rotatable valving member 106 within the valve 26. Channels 107 and 110 are formed in the rotatable member 106, and when the channels 107 and 110 are in the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 6, air is supplied to theright side of the piston 105, and the carriage 15 is urged to its retracted position. When the channels 107 and 110 are rotated 90 in a clockwise direction to the position shown in dashed lines in Fig. 6, air is supplied to the left side of the piston 105 to urge the carriage 15 to its forward position wherein the gear is adjacent to the brushes 31-31.

The rotatable member 106 within the valve 26 is actuated by a solenoid 111 which rotates the member 106 through 90 in a clockwise direction. The solenoid 111 when energized causes the channels 107 and 110 to move from their position shown in solid lines in Fig. 6 to their position shown in dashed lines. Therefore, energization of the solenoid 111 causes the carriage to move from its retracted position, as shown in Fig. l and in solid lines in Fig. 6, to its forward position, as shown in Fig. 2 and in dashed lines in Fig. 6. This is accomplished by depressing a switch 112 manually and energizingby a battery 115, a holding solenoid 116 having a holding contact 117. When the carriage 15 has reached its forwardmost position, an extending finger 120, secured to the forward end of the carriage 15, contacts and actuates a switch 121 to close a contact 122 therein. The switch is normally biased by means (not shown) such as a spring, so that the contact 122 is open. The length of time that the carriage 15 remains in its most forward position is determined by a timer 125, which includes a timing motor 126 and a normallyclosed, movable contact 127.

In order to stop rotation of the spindle 12 quickly after the gear 10 has been deburred, a brake, shown generally at 130 (Figs. 3 and 4), is provided within the hub 56. The brake 130 includes a pivoted clamping member 131 which presses against the spindle 12 to stop any rotation thereof. The clamping member 131 is pivoted by a pin 132 to the hub 56 and has a brake lining 135, which may be leather, secured thereto adjacent to the periphery of the spindle 12. A pin 136 is secured threadedly at its lower end to a lower clamping member 137, secured to the hub 56. The pin 136 extends through an aperture 140 within the upper clamping memher and has a earn 141 secured pivotally to the upper end thereof. The cam 141 is rotated by a handle 142, and counterclockwise rotation thereof, as viewed in Fig. 4, will cause the pivoted clamping member 131 to force the brake lining 135 against the spindle 12 and stop any rotation thereof.

Operation When it is desired to debur a newly-made gear, such as the gear 10, the gear is secured to the chuck 11, as described hereinbefore, while the carriage 15 is in its retracted position. If the gear 10 has no hub in the center thereof, the drawbar 82 is used to secure the gear to the chuck 11. If the gear has a hub, the drawbar 82 is omitted and the hub of the gear is gripped by the standard chuck jaws 86-456.

The carriage 15 is maintained in its retracted position when the solenoid 111 is deenergized, and the channels 107 and 110 are in the positions shown in solid lines in Fig. 6. Air under pressure from the supply conduit 101 is directed, in this case, through the chan-' nel 107 and theconduit 30, and to the right side of the 6 piston 105. The rotary brushes 31-31 are then adjusted both horizontally and vertically so that the brushes will contact diametrically opposite points on the gear 10 when the gear is moved to its forward or operative position.

The switch 112 is then closed manually to complete a circuit from the battery 115 through the valve solenoid 111, the normally-closed timer contact 127, the switch 112, the holding solenoid 116, and back to the battery 115. When the holding solenoid 116 is energized, the holding contact 117 closes so that the manual switch 112 may be released without opening the circuit to the valve solenoid 111. When the valve solenoid 111 is energized, the channels 107 and 110 within the valve 26 are rotated as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6. Air is then supplied from the conduit 101, through the channel and the conduit 28 and to the left side of the piston 105. The piston 105 moves to the right and urges the carriage 15 toward the rotary brushes 31-31.

As the carriage 15 moves to the right, the free side of the motor mounting plate 92 rides along the inclined surface of the cam plate 100. The mounting plate 92 then pivots about the rod 95, causing the distance between the axes of the sheaves 61 and 90 to increase. As the gear 10 approaches the rotary brushes 31-31, the distance between the axes of the sheaves 61 and 90 is great enough to pull the belt 91 taut therebetween. The motor 87 then drives the spindle 12 and the gear 10 is rotated as it contacts the rotary brushes 31-31.

When the carriage 15 reaches its most forward position and places the gear 10 adjacent to the brushes 31-31, the finger actuates the switch 121 and closes its contact 122. Referring to Fig. 6, a circuit is then completed, which is in parallel with a branch of the previously completed circuit. This circuit extends from the battery 115, through the now closed contact 122, thetimer motor 126, the holding contact 117, the holding solenoid 116 and back to the battery 115. The timer motor 126 is then energized, and, after a predetermined length of time, the timing contact 127 opens and de-energizes the valve solenoid 111. The channels 107 and 110 then return to their original position, shown in solid lines in Fig. 6, and, since air is again supplied to the right side of the piston, the carriage 15 is moved to its retracted position.

As the carriage 15 moves to the left, the free end of the motor mounting plate travels up the inclined edge of the cam plate 100. When the carriage 15 approaches its retracted position, the belt 91 once again becomes loose and the spindle 12 is no longer driven by the motor 87. If the spindle 12 and gear 10 should have sufiicient momentum to maintain rotation after the carriage 15 has reached its retracted position, the handle 142 of the brake may be rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4. As described hereinbefore, the clamp ing member 131 will force the brake lining against the spindle 12 and stop any rotation thereof very quickly.

When the timing contact 127 is opened by the timing motor 126, the valve solenoid 111 is de-energized immediately and the carriage 15 is moved to the left. As soon as the carriage 15 starts in its travel to the left, the finger 120 releases the switch 121 so that its contact 122 reopens. When this occurs, all circuits to the holding solenoid 116 are broken and the holding solenoid is deenergized. Therefore, when the carriage 15 reaches its retracted position and rotation of the gear 10 is arrested, the gear is removed from its position in the chuck 11, and the apparatus is prepared to receive and debur another gear similar to the gear 10.

The apparatus embodying the invention hereinbefore described is advantageous since the workpiece has a finishing operation performed thereon for a predetermined period of time. Consequently, all similar workpieces will have substantially the same finishing operation performed on them, and the finished products should be substantially uniform. Further, the work holder is brought to rest automatically after the finishing operation so that the finished workpiece can be quickly and safely detached therefrom and a new workpiece attached thereto.

The apparatus hereinbefore described illustrates how the invention may be used in deburring gears. Manifestly, workpieces other than gears can be worked upon by the apparatus. For example, such apparatus may be used for polishing clutch faces or for performing another type of finishing operation on other types of workpieces. No matter what function is performed by the load (i. e. the spindle 12, the chuck 11, etc.) which is driven by the motor 87, apparatus embodying the invention has an important inherent advantage. This advantage is that the application of the load is delayed until after the motor is running at full speed with no load thereon.

This may be particularly advantageous when it is desired to start the motor from rest and to limit the starting torque and, hence, the starting current of a motor. Since the application of the load to the motor 87 is delayed with the apparatus of the present invention, the motor is permitted to accelerate to its full speed with no load. The starting currents will, therefore, be small compared to the starting currents necessary to start the motor while the full load is thereon, since the starting torque of a motor is much greater when the motor is under load at starting.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are simply illustrative of the application of the broad principles of the invention. Numerous other arrangements may be devised readily by those skilled in the art, which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for presenting a workpiece to a workfinishing device, which comprises a movable support, means for mounting a workpiece rotatably on the support, means for reciprocating the support between a position wherein the workpiece is immediately adjacent to the work-finishing device and a position wherein the workpiece is remote therefrom, a tiltable mounting plate attached pivotally to the support for movement therewith, a cam positioned adjacent to the movable support and having a camming surface formed thereon cooperating with the tiltable mounting plate, said camming surface being designed to tilt the mounting plate when the support is positioned adjacent to the work-finishing device, and drive means secured to the mounting plate and operable for rotating the workpiece whenever the mounting plate is so tilted.

2. Apparatus for presenting a workpiece to a workfinishing device, which comprises a movable support, means for mounting a workpiece on the support rotatably, means for reciprocating the support between a position wherein the workpiece is adjacent to the finishing device and a position wherein the workpiece is remote therefrom, a tiltable mounting plate attached pivotally to the movable support for movement therewith, a cam plate secured adjacent tothe movable support and having a camming surface formed thereon cooperating with the tiltable mounting plate, said camming surface being designed to tilt the mounting plate when the workpiece is positioned adjacent to the work-finishing device, and a motor secured to the mounting plate and operable for rotating the workpiece whenever the mounting plate is so tilted.

3. Apparatus for presenting a workpiece to rotary brushes, which comprises a movable support, means for mounting a workpiece rotatably on the support, means for reciprocating the support toward and away from the brushes, a motor mounting plate secured pivotally to the support along one edge, a cam plate secured adjacent to the support and parallel vertically to the path of reciprocation thereof, the came plate having an edge thereon that diminishes horizontally in a direction toward the brushes and which supports the mounting plate freely near an edge thereof that is opposite to the pivoted edge, a motor secured to the pivoted mounting plate, and a belt extending between the motor and the workpiece, the cam plate being so constructed and arranged that the belt is too loose to rotate the workpiece when the reciprocating means urges the support away from the brushes but making the belt tight by virtue of the free edge of the mounting plate riding down the inclined surface of the cam plate as the reciprocating means moves the support toward the brushes causing the workpiece to be rotated as it approaches the brushes.

4. Apparatus for presenting a workpiece to a workfinishing device, which comprises a movable support, means for mounting a workpiece rotatably about an axis thereof on the support, means for reciprocating the support between a forward position that places the workpiece adjacent to the work-finishing device and a retracted position that places the workpiece remote from the finishing device, a motor mounting plate secured pivotally along one edge thereof to the support, a motor including a rotor and the workpiece mounting means, a cam plate secured fixedly adjacent to the support, the cam plate having a surface thereon that is inclined in a direction toward the finishing device and that is parallel vertically to the axis of the workpiece, the inclined surface on the cam plate maintaining the axes of the rotor and the workpiece close when the support is in its retracted position causing the belt to be loose and non-driving between the rotor and the workpiece mounting means and maintaining a sufficient distance between such axes when the support is in its forward position by permitting the motor mounting plate to pivot about its pivoted connection to the support so that the belt is taut and in driving relation with the rotor and the workpiece mounting means.

5. Apparatus for presenting a workpiece to rotary brushes, which comprises a base, a support mounted slidably on the base, a holder for securing a workpiece on the support rotatably about an axis, a first sheave secured to the workpiece holder, means for moving the support between a forward position where the workpiece is adjacent to the brushes and a retracted position where the workpiece is remote therefrom, a cam plate secured to the base and having a surface thereon that is parallel to the path of reciprocation of the support and inclined with respect to the base in a direction toward the brushes, a mounting plate secured pivotally on one side to the support and having another side thereof supported freely on the inclined surface of the cam plate, a motor having a rotor the axis of which is parallel to the axis of the workpiece secured to the mounting plate, a second sheave secured to the rotor, a belt extending between the first and the second sheaves, and means for reciprocating the support from the retracted position where the inclined surface so supports the free end of the mounting plate above the base such that the sheaves are close enough to render the belt loose and inoperative to rotate the workpiece and to the forward position where the inclined surface permits the mounting plate to pivot about the support and increase the distance between the twosheaves so that the belt therebetween is taut and interconnects the motor and the rotatable workpiece holder to rotate the workpiece when adjacent to the rotary brushes.

6. Apparatus for removing burrs from gears, which comprises a base, a plurality of guide rods secured to the base with the axes thereof parallel to the base, a support mounted slidably to the guide rods, a cylinder including a fluid operated piston, means for securing the cylinder to the base and the piston to the slidable support, a spindle mounted rotatably to the slidable support, a chuck secured to one end of the spindle for securing a gear rotatably, a sheave secured to the second end of the spindle, means for applying fluid to the cylinder to reciprocate the piston, the slidable support and the rotatable spindle with the chuck and the gear secured thereto along the guide rods, a horizontal shaft mounted in the base for rotatable movement with its axis perpendicular to that of the gear and adjustable vertically with respect to the base, a pair of rotary brushes mounted on the horizontal, rotatable shaft and spaced such a distance apart that the brushes engage diametrically opposite sides of the teeth of the gear when the gear is advanced thereto by energization of the fluid applying means, a first motor having a driving shaft for rotating the brushes, means for connecting the driving shaft of the first motor to the horizontal shaft and designed to connect such shafts for a predetermined range of vertical positions of the horizontal shaft, a mounting plate secured pivotally near one edge to the slidable support, a cam plate secured to the base, the cam plate having a surface that is inclined in a direction parallel to the pivoted edge of the mounting plate and which supports freely an edge of the mounting plate that is opposite to the pivoted edge thereof, the inclined surface being at its greatest distance from the base when the gear is most remote from the rotary brushes and at its shortest distance from the base when the gear is contacting the rotary brushes, a second motor having a driving shaft secured to the mounting plate, a sheave secured to the driving shaft of the second motor, and a driving belt extending between the sheave on the driving shaft of the second motor and the sheave on the spindle, the driving belt being rendered loose and non-driving when the gear is remote from the rotary brushes and the freelysupported mounting plate edge is contacting the cam plate where the inclined surface is a greater distance from,

the base and the driving belt rotating the spindle when the gear is in close proximity to the rotary brushes and the mounting plate edge is contacting the cam plate where the inclined surface is a shorter distance from the base causing the mounting plate to pivot about its pivoted edge and render the belt taut.

7. Apparatus for applying a load to a motor, which comprises a movable support, means for mounting a load rotatably on the support, means for reciprocating the support between an operative position and an inoperative position, a tiltable mounting plate attached pivotally to the support for movement therewith, a cam positioned adjacent to the movable support and having a camming surface thereon cooperating with the tiltable mounting plate, the camming surface being designed to tilt the mounting plate when the support is moved to its operative position, and a motor secured to the mounting plate and operable for rotating the load whenever the mounting plate is so tilted.

8. Apparatus for applying a load to a motor, which comprises a movable support, means for mounting a load rotatably on the support, means for reciprocating the support between a retracted position and an advanced position, a tiltable mounting plate attached pivotally to the support for movement therewith, a cam positioned fixedly adjacent to the movable support and having a camming surface thereon cooperating with the tiltable mounting plate, a motor secured to the mounting plate, and a belt extending between the motor and the load loosely so that the load is disconnected from the motor when the mounting plate is untilted, the camming surface being designed to tilt the mounting plate when the support is moved to its operative position and to render the belt taut causing the motor to rotate the load.

9. Apparatus for applying a load to a motor, which comprises a movable support for mounting a load rotatably, means for reciprocating the support between a retracted position and an advanced position, a cam plate secured fixedly adjacent to the support and parallel to the path of the reciprocation thereof, the cam plate having a surface thereon that is inclined in a direction toward the advanced position of the support, a motor mounting plate secured pivotally near one side thereof to the support with a side opposite to the pivoted side contacting the inclined surface of the cam, a motor including a driving shaft secured to the mounting plate, and a driving belt extending between the motor shaft and the load and operable for rotating the load, the inclined surface on the cam being so constructed and arranged that the distance between the axes of the motor shaft and the load is sutficiently small that the driving belt is loose and non-operative when the support is in the retracted posi tion and is great enough due to the one side of the mounting plate traveling down the inclined surface of the cam and the opposite side thereof pivoting about the support to render the belt taut to rotate the load when the support is in its advanced position.

10. Apparatus for applying a load to the rotor of a motor, which comprises a movable support for mounting a load rotatably about an axis parallel to the rotor axis, means for reciprocating the support along the axis of the load from a retracted position to a forward position, a cam platesecured adjacent to the support and having a surface thereon that is inclined progressively toward the forward position of the support, a mounting plate to which the motor is secured mounted pivotally along one edge thereof to the support with an opposite edge thereof supported on the inclined surface of the cam plate, and a belt designed to interconnect the rotor and the load, the retracted position of the support being such that the mounting plate is supported by a higher part of the inclined surface of the cam plate causing the distance between the axes of the rotor and the load to be insufficient to render the belt taut and connect the rotor and the belt operatively, and the forward position of the support being such that the mounting plate moves about its pivoted connection to the support and is supported by a lower part of the inclined surface of the cam plate causing the distance between the axes of the rotor and the load to be suflicient to render the belt taut and conmeet the rotor and the load operatively.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,089,381 Kassing Aug. 10, 1937 2,471,773 Pollak May 31, 1949 2,682,065 Nelson et al. June 29, 1954 2,737,072. Caretta Mar. 6, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 474,371 Great Britain Oct. 25, 1937 

